Begonia plant named ‘BKPBEBVRD’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘BKPBEBVRD’, characterized by its upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and single and semi-double bright red-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Begonia boliviensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKPBEBVRD’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia boliviensis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKPBEBVRD’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new compact and freely branching and freely flowering Begonia plants with attractive flower colors.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in September, 2010 of a proprietary selection of Begonia boliviensis identified as code number H10-358-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia boliviensis identified as code number 10-000-26, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in September, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by tip cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since June, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BKPBEBVRD’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BKPBEBVRD’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Single and semi-double bright red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more compact than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Flower tepals of plants of the new Begonia are bright red         yellow in color whereas flower tepals of plants of the female         parent selection are pale red in color.     -   3. Plants of the new Begonia have smaller flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more freely branching than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have slightly smaller flowers than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Begonia have single and semi-double flowers         whereas plants of the male parent selection only have single         flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the Begonia boliviensis ‘Crackling Fire Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, plants of the new Begonia differed from plants of ‘Crackling Fire Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia were more freely branching than         plants of ‘Crackling Fire Red’.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia had single and semi-double flowers         whereas plants of ‘Crackling Fire Red’ only had single flowers.     -   3. Plants of the new Begonia had slightly smaller flowers than         plants of ‘Crackling Fire Red’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKPBEBVRD’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close up views of typical flowers, flower buds and leaves of ‘BKPBEBVRD’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTIONS

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and the following observations and measurements were grown in 12-cm containers during the winter in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 19° to 20° C., night temperatures ranged from 18° to 19° C. and light levels averaged 6,000 lux. Plants were eight weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia boliviensis ‘BKPBEBVRD’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             boliviensis identified as code number H10-358-01, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             boliviensis identified as code number 10-000-26, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About 20 days at             temperatures about 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About 35 to 36 days at temperatures about 21° C. to             23° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; light brown in color;             plants of the new Begonia have not been observed to form             tubers.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright, somewhat outwardly             spreading and mounded plant habit; plant shape, spreading to             flattened globular; freely basal branching with about six             basal branches per plant; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 16.3 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 21.4 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 7.8 cm. Diameter:             About 4 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm. Texture: Sparsely             hirsute. Aspect: About 40° from the vertical. Color,             developing: Close to 152B to 152C. Color, fully developed:             Close to 152A to 152B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 9.5 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm. Shape: Lanceolate to             narrowly ovate, asymmetrical. Apex: Long and narrowly acute.             Base: Oblique. Margin: Serrate. Texture, upper surface:             Sparsely pubescent; velvety. Texture, lower surface:             Sparsely pubescent. Venation pattern: Laciniate. Color:             Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves,             upper surface: Darker than between 139A and 147A; venation,             close to 143B to 143C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface:             Close to 147B; margins, close to 176B; venation, close to             148A. Petioles: Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About             2.5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 152C tinged with close to             182D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Single rotate female and semi-double             cruciform sterile flowers arranged in axillary compound             cymes; freely flowering habit with about eight flowers per             lateral branch and about 48 flowers developing per plant;             flowers face outwardly to drooping.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about seven             weeks after planting; long flowering period, plants flower             freely and continuously from spring into the autumn in The             Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 7.3 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 10.9 cm.         -   Female flowers.—Flower diameter: About 5.4 cm. Flower             height: About 4.2 cm. Flower buds: Length: About 2.3 cm..             Diameter: About 5 mm to 9 mm. Shape: Ovate, flattened.             Color: Close to N34A. Tepals: Quantity per flower and             arrangement: Five in a single whorl. Length: About 3.9 cm.             Width: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Lanceolate to narrowly oblong.             Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Texture, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface:             Between 45C and 46C. When opening, lower surface: Between             45B and 46C. Fully opened, upper surface: Between 45C and             46C; color does not fade with development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Between 45B and 46B; color does not fade with             development.         -   Sterile flowers.—Flower diameter: About 5.1 cm. Flower             height: About 2.9 cm. Flower buds: Length: About 1.8 cm.             Diameter: About 5 mm to 11 mm. Shape: Ovate, flattened.             Color: Close to N34A. Tepals: Quantity per flower and             arrangement: Four in a single whorl. Length: About 3.4 cm.             Width: About 8 mm or 2 cm. Shape: Two tepals, ovate; and             other two tepals, narrowly oblong. Apex: Acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety.             Texture, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Between 45C and 46C.             When opening, lower surface: Between 45B and 46C. Fully             opened, upper surface: Between 45C and 46C; color does not             fade with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Between             45B and 46B; color does not fade with development.             Tepaloids: Quantity per flower and arrangement: About 18 in             several whorls. Length: About 1.8 cm. Width: About 4 mm.             Shape: Lanceolate to oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety.             Texture, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Between 45C and 46C.             When opening, lower surface: Between 45B and 46C. Fully             opened, upper surface: Between 45C and 46C; main vein, close             to 15B; color does not fade with development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Between 45B and 46B; main vein, close to 15B;             color does not fade with development.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: About 45° from branch axis. Strength: Flexible,             bending with the weight of the flowers. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 146C to 146D.         -   Pedicels, female flowers.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter:             About 1.5 mm. Angle: About 35° from the peduncle axis.             Strength: Flexible, bending with the weight of the flowers.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146C to 146D.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter:             About 1.5 mm. Angle: About 35° from the peduncle axis.             Strength: Flexible, bending with the weight of the flowers.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146C to 146D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: No stamens present on             female or sterile flowers. Gynoecium, female flowers:             Quantity of pistils per flower: About six. Pistil length:             About 9 mm. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close to             22A. Stigma color: Close to 17A and 17B. Ovary color: Close             to 145A; wings, close to 46A. Gynoecium, sterile flowers:             Quantity of pistils per flower: One. Pistil length: About             9 mm. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close to 28A to             28B. Stigma color: Close to 17A and 17B. Ovary color: Not             present on sterile flowers. -   Disease & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common     to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new     Begonia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to     USDA Hardiness Zone 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘BKPBEBVRD’ as illustrated and described. 